Aker Woods: Customer Comments and Testimonials

Feel free to use this email and photos with potential customers.  Having just complete my project I thought my experiences may be helpful to others considering adding the log siding.  Attached are 3 photos.

 

First an overall comment.  I am very pleased with the end result and the method I used on the corners.   I have the rustic look of a real tradition log cabin and not that of a milled  kit log house. Only an expert close up will realize it’s not a very traditionally built log house.

 

Looking at photo of a stack of your log siding and then when I received them  I was put off.  The log thickness varied from 2 inches to 5 ½ inches and there was always a differenced from end to end on each piece.  The pieces were about 1/3 10 ft, 1/3 12-14 ft and 1/3 up to 18 ft.  I was hoping for more of the longer pieces and more consistent thickness.  However what I found is that it was relatively easy to match up the ends between logs and with windows doors etc the lengths worked out just right.  The longer pieces were in fact rather heavy but they worked well on some of the long trim area on the roof edge and railings and along the bottom. 

 

Materials.

The rough outside measurements came to 1500 sq ft.  I did not make any deductions for doors and windows and this amount proved just about right to cover wastage.  I got an extra 100 sq ft for trim work around my deck  and wished I had got another 100 sq ft.

 

For my 1500 sq ft I needed 3000 screws totaling about  $1300,   5 x 5 gallons pails of chinking ($900 +)  and 13 gallons of boiled linseed oil ($300)

 

It took 3 of us 8 days to get the logs up and 2 people 2 ½ days to do the chinking. With the high volume sprayer pumping straight form the 5 gallon cans we oiled the house in 5 hours most the the time being on covering up the windows and doors and cleaning up afterwards.    

 

We had 2 drills ( 7 amp and 10 amp) and a 10 inch crosscut saw and a 10 inch table saw.  12 inch would have been better.

 

Logs.   Each 250 pail of screws came with a nut driver. However  you need to buy additional nut drivers as it is better if you change nut drivers ever 125 screws. They wear out fast.   We were not able to drive the screws below the surface. Doing it again I would drill  1/2 inch in before driving the screws in so the head would be far less visible.

 

Corners.

I used 8 inch high by 9 inch long by 4 inch thick blocks on each interlocking corner.   I suggest you offer  block 8 inch  by 9 inch by 5 inch to your customers with  9 inch long siding a consistent 3 or 4 inch flat surface  for customers wanting a full log look rather than a D log look.   Mine looks fine form 20 feet away but for a really good realistic look I would do the following.

Place glue along the matching edges and screw the siding to the block. Then run a saw across the end through both pieces and down each edge.  This would give the look of a solid piece of wood and hide the joint.

 

Caulking. 

I got the Cox 32 oz tube gun  and mounting plate to fill the gun direct from the 5 gallon pails (around $150).    It is critical you spray WD 40 or similar oil on the rod and inside the barrel of the  gun at least when beginning work each day. This dramatically eases the filling process.

Don’t put too much material on, about a 3/8 bead.   Then spray liberally with water from a spray bottle and press the material in with you finger and then run your finger down the joint to smooth it out.  Spray lots of water on it.  Good idea to put masking take along the edges of doors and windows and remove immediately after spreading the material.  It took us a day to figure things out but then things went much faster and we got much tidier results and used half as much material.   

 

The screws will alert a person experienced with log houses that this is siding and not a true log but everyone else will definitely assume it is a true log house.

 

Had we done a better job countersinking the screws and attaching the block on the  corners even an experienced person close up would be fooled by the result.

 

Hard work but well worth it.   Prefinished milled siding would have been easier to put up and cheaper by over 30% but they always look like a siding and simply don’t compare to this thick heavy true log finish.  

 

Cheerio,
Richard Hall
New Mexico
8/27/11


 

Very happy with the siding and the tongue and groove.  Thanks
Robert Delk
South Dakota
8/31/11

Hey Alan,

I got my logs today. Everything looks great. Thanks for getting them to me. I appreciate what you and Heidi did for me.

Russel Myers
Ohio
8/23/11

 

Alan,

I received the maple mantel and it looks great. Thanks for your help.  
David Moore
Indiana
9/19/11
 

Hi Alan,

I received my latest order today.
All is well, it's exactly what I asked for.

Thanks and Regards,
Paul 
Orange, CA.
5/29/11

Logs have arrived - they look great and will fit in with our logs for th repairs.  Thanks!!
Betty
Florida
8/31/10

Hi Alan,
I received the logs today. Just want to say thanks. They look great.
Mitch Trumpp
Kansas
3/31/10

The logs have arrived - I think all of them now--they came in several
shipments over a few days.
They look terrific and the ones with extra character are just
delightsome.
Thank You
 
Can you remind me what species these are?
I'll send you pictures of the final project.....
 
Mark Petersen
Utah

Alan,

Click on the link below to see some pictures of our barn finished with your log products --- it turned out just the way we wanted it to -- you did a great job.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcsnDVm1ct2Lsw

Kory Pace in Nebraska

Alan,

We received the final segment of rail today. Nice crate job! The crate was heavier than the rail. I was glad you enjoyed the pictures. I will send more.... You have my permission to use the photos. Thanks for your help and cooperation. It was greatly appreciated. We've been getting a lot of oohs and aahs from friends that have seen our rail. It has really made our house special.

Thanks again,

Mike

Hello, Mr. Aker! We received the log we ordered yesterday.

I was surprised to see it sitting on our front porch when I got home. It is beautiful and will look awesome in our new kitchen.

Brigitte and Chris Cavanaugh,
New Jersey

Thanks, the boards came on Saturday, I HAVE INSTALLED THEM. THEY WORKED PERFECTLY!!!!! thanks again.

John Teague,
Texas:

Mr. Aker,

Thank you again for sending me the blue pine. I thought I would send you a picture of what my project looked like when it was finished.

Wooden Art made from Blued Ponderosa Pine by Fred Des Camps (Click for larger view)

Fred Des Camps

Alan, I just wanted to take the time to say... ThankYou... for providing me with the most wonderful pieces of wood that I could have ever found. I am sending a picture of the very first Black Hills hand carved Fireplace Mantel...no..it is not finished yet.....but it was far enough along that I felt I could share the progress with you. I hope you enjoy it. I have to carve one more trout...do a lot of sanding....some shellac...and on to the next one...I am coming back out there in June and will be setting up another order soon.

BTW.....Deb was such a wonderful person....and so helpful....I look forward to seeing her again.

Kirby Linjer's Carved Trout Wooden Fireplace Mantel (Click for larger view)

Zoomed Kirby Linjer's Carved Trout Wooden Fireplace Mantel (Click for larger view)

Kirby Linjer
Wisconsin

View Kirby's Carved Mantel Page at this web site.

Alan, I finally got it figured out how to send you photos of my house I built using your materials. I will take some additional photos showing the interior stairs & a corner detail. As well as some showing the hand railing. I was pleased with everything but the delivery & I know that was not in your control. Feel free to post these on your web site and use me for a reference if you'd like.

Buddy's House 1st View (Click for larger view)	Buddy's House 2nd View (Click for larger view)

Buddy Rogers
Kentucky

Alan,

Just want to say thanks for your logs, I managed to get my 24'-0 ers stood in the middle of my home last weekend, you can't imagine all the looks from people passing by, they are superb with lots of character.

I'll send you some pictures as I get them developed. Thanks again.

Jim Marshek and family.
Iowa

"Thanks to you Alan for supplying the bur oak mantle. Your website is very user friendly. It was also nice to know that if we contacted you through email, a quick response was received. Hope that we might do another project together. The wood makes the fireplace!"

Val Heusser
Utah

"They (Eastern Redcedar logs) worked fine. We were really pleased with the amount of heartwood, as well as the sizes. Thanks again for your help."

Al Hester
South Carolina Parks Department

Good Morning Alan,

I have a picture along with a comment for your website if you feel like putting it on there.

Thank you for the beautiful hand peeled ponderosa pine logs. They are perfect for the type of furniture I build. I am pleased with the service and happy to know when I email you, you write back right away. Also, what a major improvement on your website!

Shawn Beck
Ohio

I would like the 10" tip logs again please. They seem to be working out pretty good. I would also like to have your guys peel them this time. They did a real nice job on them last time. My customer wants them peeled completely with no cambium left on them, just like the last set you sent me.

Thanks again for the nice straight, beautiful logs.
Little Alaska Cabin Company, Minnesota

Alan,

Thanks for suggesting the log wizard. It's made peeling a lot easier. Thanks again for your help. When we're done with the house, we'll send you a picture and maybe you can put it on your website.

Take care,

Tony
Maryland

Alan

I'm well pleased with the cedar you sent. Not too good with words but my comment would be that it has a very nice color and everyone that has seen it loved it and wanted to know where I got it.

Harley
Webster, Pennsylvania